1D15.20 - High Road Low Road

Code Number:
1D15.20
Demo Title:
High Road Low Road
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Path Lengths and Velocities
Area of Study:
Mechanics
Equipment:
Brachistochrones.
Procedure:

The balls will start and end at the same height.  The route is different and hence the time that the ball takes will be different also.  Using the carbon paper will enable you to show that the balls have the same energy when they leave the track.

References:
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 60, #3, March 2022, p. 222.
  • Dan Hosey, "Modeling a High Road/Low Road Race Quantitatively Using Desmos", TPT, Vol. 57, #4, Apr. 2019, p. 266.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics: Ball Race", TPT, Vol. 48, #6, Sept. 2010, p. 364.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Hewitt's Response", TPT, Vol. 46, #2, Feb. 2008, p. 70.
  • Christopher LaSota, "Comment on 'Rolling Ball' (Figuring Physics, Dec. 2007)", TPT, Vol. 46, #2, Feb. 2008, p. 70.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics: Rolling Ball", TPT, Vol. 45, #9, Dec. 2007, p. 534.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics: Average Speed of Balls", TPT, Vol. 37, #7, Oct. 1999, p. 423.
  • G. E. Hite, "Real-World Constraints", TPT, Vol. 35, #6, Sept. 1997, p. 324.
  • Asif Shakur and Andrew Pica, "On An Ambiguous Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 35, #5, May 1997, p. 316.
  • William J. Leonard and William J. Gerace, "The Power of Simple Reasoning", TPT, Vol. 34, #5, May 1996, p. 280.
  • Joanne Langabee, "Additional Uses for High Road/Low Road", TPT, Vol. 29, #4, Apr. 1991, p. 196.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 27, #8, Nov. 1989, p. 640.
  • Art Schmidt and Dan Cieslik, "High Road/Low Road", TPT, Vol. 27, #4, Apr. 1989, p. 293.
  • John Bozovsky and Father John Milton, "Doing Physics: Acceleration", TPT, Vol. 24, #6, Sept. 1986, p. 356.
  • D. Rae Carpenter Jr. and Richard B. Minnix, "M-418. High Road-Low Road", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook, 1993.
  • Christopher P. Jargodzki and Franklin Potter, "233. The Unrestrained Brachistochrone", Mad About Physics, p. 92 - 93, 228 - 229.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "E.11. Path of Least Time", Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations, p. 65.




Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.